riding position issue

[DerfAMX]

I've got a '76 KZ900 cafe bike. stock tank, clubman bars, rearsets and glass seat. The riding position is good (I've owned many sportbikes and this is pretty close to the same position as them). EXCEPT when hitting the brakes......All of my weight is forced to my hands. The tank has a shallow slope and you feel like you're going over it. sportbikes also have body work and/or tank design that allows you to grip it with your knees. I'm 6'5" and my knees are on the heads (damn hot). Has anyone else ran into this problem? Thanks

 

[Rocan]

your shifter and brake pedal are on to much of an angle. Its pretty common among most guys who set up their rearsets for the first time. They should be pretty parallel to the ground. This will keep your knees out of the heads and will increase your control. Also check to make sure you dont have a crazy amount of travel in the rear brake. You can buy some generic tank pads to get yourself stuck to the tank a little better.

And remember- this is a 33 year old bike- it just doesnt stop the way modern bikes do

 

[Hot Rod Troy]

I had a simular problem riding my CB360 with clubman bars on it. I switched to drag bars and that helped with the going over feeling. I'm 6'4" and riding a smaller bike, the only thing I can say is what a rush.

 

[tobiism]

your shifter and brake pedal are on to much of an angle. Its pretty common among most guys who set up their rearsets for the first time. They should be pretty parallel to the ground.

Not in my experience. Parallel with the ground leads to stiff sore ankles and calf muscles. In the cafe riding position your feet will be in a slanted position. It wouldn't make sense to have to lift your toes above that angle to shift or brake.

 

[Rocan]

Not in my experience. Parallel with the ground leads to stiff sore ankles and calf muscles. In the cafe riding position your feet will be in a slanted position. It wouldn't make sense to have to lift your toes above that angle to shift or brake.

i didnt mean completely paralel, just more paralel then a 45 degree angle.

or at leasts thats what ive found with my setup

 

[Swagger]

again, no hard and fast rule here. The bike must fit you, you don't fit yourself to the bike.
Speaking personally, even without riding boots there's no way in hell that my feet could EVER be even close to parallel to the ground with rear sets.

As for the OP's post.....
You should look into a tank swap that'll give you the "landscape" that you want.
Also, if your bars are set really low you will transfer your weight to your wrists much more than an upright riding position, it's part of the package. Do you ahve a side shot of your bike? Perhaps if we can see it we'll be able to make better recommendations

 

[DerfAMX]

Thanks for all the advice. If Ihold my feet about two inches above the pegs my kneees finally are into the tank. So I may make some adaptors plates to raise the rearsets. It will sharpen the knee bend, but I am comfortable at that angle. By the way, just wnet for a 120 mile ride this weekend. Highway speeds on smooth road is fine, but decelerating is still a major pain. I am going to make another tank. I'm not much of a sheetmetal guy, but I think I'll take an old KZ tank that I've got and cut it at the bottom seam and bebd/weld the top from an old Norton or something onto it. I figure that would be easier than trying to get a different type of tank to fit without disassembling bike and re-powdercoating frame after mods. I will put an updated pic on here tomorrow with bike complete and me on it so that you guys can see the leg position problem I've got. Thanks. This is a pic from a couple of months ago: